Luganville Seaplane Base

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Luganville Seaplane Base
Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands
EspirituSantobasePBYramp.jpg
PBY Catalinas at the Luganville Seaplane Base Ramp in February 1942
Coordinates 15°33′18″S167°08′49.2″E / 15.55500°S 167.147000°E / -15.55500; 167.147000
TypeMilitary Seaplane Base
Site information
Controlled by United States Navy
Conditionabandoned
Site history
Built1942
Built bySeebees
In use1942-5

Luganville Seaplane Base is a former World War II seaplane base in the Segond Channel between the islands of Espiritu Santo and Aore Island in the New Hebrides Islands at the Espiritu Santo Naval Base.

Contents

History

World War II

The first bases on Espiritu Santo were established by the United States as defensive bases to guard the existing facility at Efate and to support the Solomon Islands Campaign, however its strategic location led to its expansion into one of the largest advance bases in the South Pacific. [1] The 7th Naval Construction Battalion arrived on Santo on 11 August 1942 and began construction of more extensive air facilities to support the Guadalcanal Campaign. The 7th Battalion constructed a parking area, two pre-fabricated 85 feet (26 m) by 100 feet (30 m) nose hangars, warehouses, quonset huts and two seaplane ramps at Belchif Point on the Segond Channel between the Renee and Sarakata Rivers. [2] The 57th Naval Construction Battalion later built two seaplane drydocks at the base. [2] : 232 

United States Navy units based at the base included:

all operating PBYs.

US Navy ships supporting seaplane operations included:

Royal New Zealand Air Force units operating from the base included:

Postwar

NOB Espiritu Santo disestablished on 12 June 1946. [3] : 757  The base's onshore facilities are now overgrown and are under private ownership. Erosion caused by Cyclone Harold in April 2020 revealed details of the layout of the base, including exposing one of the seaplane ramps. [4]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Stone, Peter (1997). The Lady and the President: The life and loss of the S.S. President Coolidge. Oceans Enterprises. p. 51. ISBN   9780958665728.
  2. 1 2 Building the Navy's Bases in World War II History of the Bureau of Yards and Docks and the Civil Engineer Corps 1940-1946. US Government Printing Office. 1947. p. 230.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons - Volume 2 . Naval Historical Center. p. 402.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  4. ↑ "Cyclone Harold uncovers treasure trove of World War II US military relics in Vanuatu". ABC News Australia. 6 May 2020. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
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